argument of Gods love whether they be afflictive or mercifull meerly outward Providences are no argument of Gods special love Eccles 9. 1. You cannot see love or hatred by any of these things that are before you You cannot say God hath more love to you then he hath to them he took away by the disease because he spared you for these in themselves are but common mercies 2. Consider that meerly when outward judgement ceaseth we cannot thence conclude Gods anger ceaseth or is turned away We cannot conclude by the present removal of a judgement that the anger of God is removed for God may remove it in anger There are pardoning mercies God may be said to pardon when he doth only spare for a time Psal 78. 36. So he forgave their iniquity How forgave Not with a special saving pardoning mercy for he punished them afterwards yea unto destruction many of them but it was a present reprieve from the judgement God may be as angry with you still as ever though he hath removed the present Judgement a sparing mercy may be in wrath in displeasure to the person that is spared therefore you have no reason to be secure nor to be pleased with your present condition while God may be angry with you while the anger of God is not appeased you have no reason to cry peace to your selves when God doth not speak a word of peace 3. Consider that when men are delivered from affliction and not saved from their sins it is certain God is angry with them still when they are delivered from an outward affliction and sin remains that that is the cause and coar of affliction and evill be not removed you may certainly conclude it is but a reservation to greater judgements As it is an argument of their happy condition that are in the very midst of affliction when they are taught of God in it made more holy humble conformable to Gods will so it is an argument of a miserable and a cursed estate though you are out of affliction if you have not been taught of God if you are out of affliction but still in sin it is a certain argument of reservation to greater punishment that worse things will befall you unless timely Repentance prevent it There are these two ends why God doth punish his people and God will accomplish his end in every punishment there is his work and his whole work God will doe on mount Sion Isa 10. 22. When God hath done his whole work then he burneth the rod and not till then it is but laid by and Gods intention to bring a greater What is Gods whole work There is in every Judgement a work of judgement and a work of mercy there is a work of mercy God hath to all his elect and people to reform and refine them to purge away their sin to make them holy and to make them better Isa 27 9. That is the work to them that are the true children of Sion But then God hath a work of judgement that is on those he never intends saving mercy to every judgement is but the beginning of their misery God judgeth them in way of satisfaction to Justice there is but part of paiment in one judgement that is upon them and it is is to ensure them that the remainder is behind that God will be sure to take the full paiment If none of this work be done if God hath not refined his people there is still some work to be done if there be those that are unconverted never to be converted greater and worse judgements doe abide none such but shall have greater cause to curse the day of their birth then ever Iob or Jeremiah yea to curse the day of their preservation better you had died of that sickness because your judgement is but so much increased by your living Those that shall live out their dayes without true repentance of their sin every dayes mercy is but an aggravation of their condemnation There are many signs of Gods remaining displeasure methinks the clouds doe seem to return after the rain God doth not make it cleer day with us nor cause the clouds to break and scatter but to gather again There are many Signs as God's taking away those that are the prime and hopefull ones of the next generation that is a sad sign of worse judgements 1 King 14. 13. It was sad to Jeroboams house and so to all Israel the taking away Jeroboams Son in whom some good thing toward the Lord was found it was a judgement to the whole house of Israel he was taken from the evill and it was a sign from the Lord of the evill he would bring on them so the taking away so many of Gods faithfull ones especially in eminent place in Magistracy and in Ministry putting out so many lights in the Candlesticks and that men many of them in their prime in the flower of their years that were very likely to have lived many years and done much service to God that died not in a full old age and full of days but in their youth and in the flower of their dayes and which is a great deal worse and makes it look the sadder that there are not any doe rise and fill their places that it is so hard a thing to see and rationally to think that there are men to fill up the rooms of those God hath taken from us When stars doe set and there are no others that rise it is a sign of a very dark uight when men that stood in the gap are taken away and none to put in their room they are sad signs that God hath a mind to take away the hedge unless speedy repentance and reformation prevent this ruine Yet this is the saddest sign of all that these things doe befal◠us and so few doe lay them to heart that men are not awakened to bestir themselves to lay hold on God that when they have lost all visible props they doe 〈◊〉 make sure of God to be their friend While God himself stands at a distance and 〈◊〉 sinners stand at a distance from God this is the saddest sign of all 〈…〉 not humbled doe not stir up themselves to lay hold on God Isa 〈…〉 are taken away no man laying it to heart that was the 〈…〉 People had there been broken hearts under a breach that might have made some amends and have been a means to prevail with God to pour out his Spirit but to be an unhumbled unreformed people under such dispensations of God this is one of the saddest signs though I do verily believe and have many Arguments to sway my thoughts concerning it that God will not throw up the work he hath done in New-England will not utterly root up the plant he hath planted and that the Judgement God hath taken out of the hand of an Enemy he may not easily put it into the hand of another but that he will take it himself and deal with his People by his own hand but yet believe it if God love you if you are such that God hath special favour for then God will not spoyle you and if God will not spoyle you then he will not spare his Rod and you may be sure if one will not do another shall The godly holy shall be refined if one Furnace will not do it another shall Those that are Elect however they are like wild Asses Colts God will have his Month to find you God hath other Thorns to set in the way of your lovers if you will be like Manasseh that must be taken in the bushes God will have his time to do it when you shall humble your selves and your Souls before the God of your Fathers them that God hath designed for Conversion they shall be converted what every way God hath to do it it seems to be a terrible way but if there be some God hath no such special love for let me tell you God will not spare you to spoyle his end God is about reforming work not only his People but things among his people God is about to have other manner of Churches and other manner of Spirits his People shall be refined but they shall be consumed it will be a terrible day of the Lord but shall be as refiners fire and will purifie the gold but the dross shall be consumed in the fire And therefore let me leave this solemn advice with you nay it is not mine but Christs and that the Lord himself gives you that you bewail your former and take heed of future sinning Eccl. 12. 1 2. Remember your Creator in the dayes of your Youth the Clouds may not return after the Rain It is spoken to those that are not only in the beginning of their time but in their prosperous time If you so do you will not only prevent future judgements but be in the way to better mercyes as well as continue those you have I may say to you from the Lord you have seen the worst dayes the bitterness of death is over the best are behind and your present preservation is a pledge of your future Salvation Psal 94. 12. Psal 119 71 75. which will put an end to sin sorrow and the fear of either for ever And may say with him Isai 38. 17. In love to my Soul the Lord hath delivered me for he hath cast all my sins behind his back and with the Apostle 2 Cor. 1. 9 10. FINIS In the Epistle l. 4. for vein r. view P. 4. l. 20. r. Luk. 10.
Serious Advice to delivered Ones from Sickness or any other Dangers threatning Death how they ought to carry it that their Mereyes may be continued and After Misery prevented OR THE HEALED ONES PROPHVLACTICON Or Healthfull Diet. Delivered in several SERMONS On JOHN 5. 14. By JAMES ALLIN Teacher to the most antient Church of Christ in Boston BOSTON Printed by John Foster in the Year 1679. To the Reader Christian Reader THese Sermons written out by some pious Hearers from their own Notes and by their desire hastned to the Press so that I could not for want of time supervise them as I would and not being willing to burden them with writing them again I have been prevailed with to consent to their publishing in this homely Dress unfit indeed for the vein of this curious and câ—rping Age that are more for what pleaseth then what profiteth them But seeing it hath pleased the Lord so far to bless them to any as thereby to stir them up at their own cost and pains to endeavour to promove others good thereby if the Blessing may attend the Reading that did the Preaching of them And that it may let me advise thee into whose hand this may come thou think not thy time lost in reading it that with the same integrity thou come to read them that those who are the occasion of the publishing did to the hearing and with more mind to mend thy own then find another faults If thou findest any benefit let it further thy Prayers for the Instrument thy Thanks to the Lord for those have occasioned it and let you and I adore the wisdome of God in managing unlikely and foolish means for thy saving good to stain mans pride and exalt his own glory which is the aime and design of him who is Boston May 16. 1679. thy Souls friend James Allin John 5. 14. Afterward Jesus finding him in the Temple and saith to Him Behold thou art made whole sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee IN the Chapter you have first the Hystory of a glorious Miracle Christ wrought in healing an impotent man from the first to the tenth verse 2. The Jews quarrelling at it designing the ruine of him that healed him from the tenth to the nineteenth verse 3. Christs Apology for himself in defence of the work he had done to the end of the Chapter In the first verse and so on you have the Miracle and therein first the time of it it was at the Feast of the Passover 2. The place and that was Bethesda where was a Pool for healing any disease to the person that first stepped in after an Angel had troubled the waters 2. You have the person healed described 1. By his Impotency left of all in the time none helped him into the water 2. By the long time he had been under this distemper which was 38 years 3. You have the manner of his cure it was by Christs word of command in obedience to his command he was to take up his bed and walk as a sign that he was healed Then in the second part of the Chapter you have the Jews quarrelling and before they knew the Author of this healing they charge the poor man with breach of the Sabbath by carrying his bed and his Apology being that he was so commanded by him that healed him and upon their Enquiry who it was he replyed he did not know Then you have Christ manifesting himself to the healed man by whom the Jews understanding the person they design his death But you see Christ finding this person gives him heavenly Counsel how to carry it that the benefit received may be for good to him goe and sin no more c. In the words are two things 1. Christ finding this impotent man he had healed 2. The excellent counsel Christ gives him 1. By way of direction Behold thou art healed 2. By way of caution sin no more lest c. In Christs finding this man two things observable 1. The time of it it was afterward after his obedience to Christ carrying his bed which the Iews charged him with and Christ manifesting himself to him in a glorious manner and from thence we may draw this Observation Doct. That they who meet with most difficulty in the way of their obedience to Christ may expect to meet with a reward in having more of Christs presence So that whether it be Duty in the way of our general course or any particular duty we are doing for Christ no difficulty should discourage us therein the Lord Jesus knows how to make a Recompence and compensation to us As you should consider 1. The time when so 2. The place where Christ found him it was in the Temple where he was offering his Thank-offering and he was early at the Temple for you find Christ did not stay for his coming but found him there so that he was early in returning Thanks thence observe Doct. That it is a good fruit of healing mercy from God thank fully to acknowledge the same in our diligent attendance upon his Instituted Worship We have here 1. Chriâ—ts own Example he leavs us to be early in seeking God in the Temple thither Christ comes and 2. this healed mans Example also there Christ finds him he finds him not in a Tavern or in his own house neglecting the means and publick worship but in Gods house And he is not there as one loth to come or weary of that Service but was early there when Christ comes he finds him there and from hence further we may observe Doct. That it is a great advantage to any that are able to attend upon the Instituted Worship yea to be diligent in attending thereon for there it is you will meet with the presence of Jesus Christ there you will find that knowledge of him and acquaintance with him that you meet not with elsewhere there Christ found him waiting upon God to acknowledge his healing mercy and there he meets with Christ And further you may observe Doct. They that do what they can in the acknowledgement of God in their duty so far as they know they shall therein be acquainted with more of their duty God will give greater and clearer discoveries of his mind to him in that way and you must remember God is not a debtor to us by any thing we pay him but we are more indebted to him for those communications of his to us Psal 50. 23. They that glorifie me to them I will shew the Salvation of God But the latter part of the verse is that I would chiefly speak unto the counsel Christ gives this healed man Christ is a gracious Physitian and comes now to heal his Soul as well as his body that he may be kept in such a measure of health as may be for his comfort and in order to it he gives him this counsel 1. By way of direction Behold thou art made whole That which Christ herein calls
him unto it is a diligent observance of the mercy God had bestowed he would have him take more notice in a fuller view of this mercy thou art made whole Adding Behold healing mercy is that which should not pass you more serious consideration where God gives it 2. The caution Christ gives him Sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee he gives him a special Caution against sin specially that fin God had been punishing him for And he backs this caution with an inforcing Argument lest a worse thing then thirty eight years sickness by such a distemper come to thee And when Christ saith Behold thou art made whole he doth not say I have healed thee thereby teaching us humility for he did not understand Christ to be God but would mind him of the chief Author consider thou art healed So from the words we may take these three observations Doct. 1. It is the duty of those that have received healing and delivering mercy from the Lord to take special notice of it Doct. 2. Those that are healed or delivered are to take very good heed that they sin no more Doct. 3. That sins after great and eminent Salvations Deliverances mercies they pull down greater Judgements Doct. 1. Those that are under saving and healing mercy from God they should take special notice of it Beold thou art he aled You must not take a transient view but take serious notice of Gods mercies It is one of the most pretious and pleasant works of a Christian to take notice of and observe Gods Providences to himself Psal 111. The works of the Lord are great sought out of all those that have pleasure therein For the Explication of the Doctrine we may Consider 1. What is this beholding and taking notice of delivering and healing mercies 2. How we should take this notice of them and 3. Why we should do so 1. What is that notice Christ would have every one delivered and saved to take of the mercy vouchsafed I Answer this beholding is variously taken 1. For a beholding with our bodily Eyes as God said to Moses Deut. 3. 27. get thee up into the Top of Pisgah and lift up thine Eyes West-ward and East-ward and North-ward and South-ward and behold with thine Eyes the Land c. he was to see the Land of Canaan with his outward bodily Eye 2. There is a beholding with the understanding a considering of it a looking upon it with the Eye of the Soul Rom. 11. 32. Behold therefore the goodness and Severity of God if you would see the goodness and Severity of God in his Providences you must behold it with your understanding Eye you must consider it and that consideration fixed to behold it which imports two things 1. Taking a full view of it in the latitude of the mercy a looking it all over it is a through and diligent observation taking notice of every Argument in it that doth advance the mercy for your better acknowledgement of it Not to take it by the lump but observing every Circumstance that may heighten it to your consideration to behold it so that you may see matter of wonderment to behold every mercy with admiration 2. It bespeaks the intention of the act Behold you must look intensly upon it you must keep your eye fixed upon it it must not go out of your view you must look wishly all round about it and into every part of it with intenseness of Spirit 2. But how should we thus take notice and look upon the mercy that we may rightly behold it and consider it I Answer 1. In every Deliverance and work of Providence look into all the particular passages of Providence you find in it We should take the mercy in pieces and look into every part and see what special Circumstances there are for our notice and observation I shall mention some of those things in delivering mercyes that are worthy your observation 1. Take notice of the time and seasonableness of the mercy at what a needful time God sent such a mercy God then delivered you and if it had not been then what had become of you Mercy coming in that needful Season puts a beauty upon it as Eccles 3. Every thing is beautiful in its Season it is then a mercy suitable This poor man who had lain thirty eight years at the Pool and none helped him it is probable his Faith and Patience was worn out and now in this nick of time Christ comes according to that in Isai 41. 18 19. When the poor and needy seek water and there is none and their tongue faileth for thirst I the Lord will hear them I the God of Israel will not forsake them That is a Season of mercy when the heart is ready to sail and mercy comes in Abraham takes notice of his mercy and the deliverance of his Son in the nick of time Gen. 22. 12. At that time when he was taking the knife to slay his Son and calls the Name Jehovah Jeirith there and then in the Mount the Lord was seen 2. Observe and consider the care of Gods Providence in bestowing the mercy his special and distinguishing care in preserving you when others dye you are singled out for deliverance when others are not spared Christ speaks Emphatically here to the man thou art he God hath healed when so many lay sick there at the Pool besides to have a healing mercy in a killing time it heightens the Mercy in a special manner In Isai 26 20. God puts a special Remark upon this deliverance they must enter into their Chambers God hath a Chamber of safety and preservation for such in singular and distinguishing favour to them 3. Observe and consider how leading this mercy is unto other mercyes Vsually Deliverances and healing mercyes do not come alone but are attended with many other mercyes Now you must observe all the Concomitants of mercy that do attend it as you find Hezekiah doth Isai 38. 17. Behold for peace I had great bitterness But thou in love to my Soul hast delivered me from the Pit of Corruption for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back He takes notice of his healing mercy deliverance from the pit of outward destruction by that killing disease and specially of the mercy attending of it that God did it in love to his Soul and that it was a Testimony of Gods favour in pardoning all his sin also one mercy goes not alone to the People of God 4. Another thing observable in a healing mercy is the Instrument God makes use of or the way he doth it in sometimes it is in an unknown way a way we did not expect such a mercy in the poor man waited for healing at the Pool but little thought Christ should heal him by his Word It is sometimes a strange way that God sends in a mercy to his People so Luk. 5. 33. a stranger passed that way and he took up the poor wounded
man and healed him so it is sometimes a strange way God heals in the impotent man had none to put him into the Pool now to be healed in a strange way unexpected this doth greatly inhance the mercy of God 5. Observe and take notice of the designe and end of mercy and deliverance what Errand it comes upon what work and what gracious effect it hath all believers are under that general Promise Rom. 8. that all things shall work together for good to them c. afflictions shall and mercyes shall every thing shall now to see them thus working for our good this heightens the mercy The poor man goes into the Temple and there acknowledgeth it it is to further duty when â—t is done in mercy caring not only to be healed but to be Thankful 6. Observe the respect mercy hath to the Prayers and desires of your Souls and to the things you beg there is a wonderful value upon mercyes when they are in Answer to our Prayers when you in distress have cryed to God and called others it may be to cry to God for you and the Lord hath heard as Psal 34. This poor man cryed and the Lord heard him and delivered c. he had Answer of Prayer so that you should have such Interest in Heaven and that God hears the cryes of his poor ones this exceedingly endears the mercy to us as Psal 40. 1 2. I waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined to me and heard my cry he brought me up also out of the horrible pit out of the myery clay and seâ— my feet upon a Rock and established my goings That is the first thing to be observed in our healing and delivering mercyes the Circumstances in it that heighten the mercy being looked upon with a considerate fixed Eye and an intelligent heart to further our acknowledgement 2. Observe and behold every mercy and deliverance how it doth fulfil the word of God to you there is never a Providence of God but it is a fulfilling of Gods word as it is said Psal 148. 8. Stormy winds fulfilling his Word so doth every mercy and deliverance to his People Now you should look on the work of Providence together with the Word of God and see what particular word of God is made good to you by his Providence for that is encouragement from experience to trust in the word of God another time God saith call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me Psal 50. 15. Now such a Deliverance is an Answer to such a Word and Promise sued out by Prayer for therein God hath fulfilled a Promise to you So 1 Cor. 10. 13. the Lord tells you that with every Temptation he will work a way for your escape and that you shall be able to bear it and in such a deliverance God hath fulfilled that Word to you this adds Beauty unto and honours Gods word in seeing God fulfilling it in the Execution of Providences so in Joh. 19. 36. not a bone of Christ was broken this was done that the Scripture might be fulfilled 3. In all Deliverances and healing mercyes that you should observe and consider in them who is the author of them we are not only to look to the work done that this person is healed but whence it is The Effect is a manifestation of the cause we must labour to understand the cause our understanding must look through things done to the cause every one should see the hand of God which healeth him for there is the Name of God written upon the mercy and especially upon a gracious and eminent delivering Providence And consider what you are to see of God therein 1. You are to see the care God hath of you as your heavenly Father so we are told in Scripture God as your Father cares for you he knows what you need Math. 6. 26 27. if for inanimate Creatures much more for rational especially those among them that are also spiritual and in every delivering mercy manifests that care of you We are commanded that we should be found in our duty whether we are under afflicting Providences or any other Trusting in and leaving the Issue with the care of our heavenly Father who careth for us 1 Pet. 5. 7. therefore we are bid to cast our care upon him and so every godly man rowls that care as to the Issue and Event upon the Lord and then in the Deliverance the Lord manifests his care so that in considering the mercy you may read and see that God doth take a fatherly care of you under whatsoever dispensation of Providence you are 2. You may see the wisdome of God in healing and restoring you especially being eminent Deliverances when it may be you were past hope and had no means left for encouragement the wisdome of God found out a way provided means and gave the blessing to a good Issue 2 Pet. 2. 9. The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of Temptation c. he hath many wayes he doth not make known till the time of Deliverance so that here also you may read this in the Deliverance the wisdome of God 3. Observe in what way God doth convey his mercy that is a great and beautiful thing to behold the way in which God conveys every mercy to you The way is Christ Jesus No mercy comes to you but through the blood of Jesus Christ Remember thou art he whose sins brought distress upon Christs Soul how comes any Remedy for or deliverance from the wounds sicknesses evils and dangers sin hath brought thee into but only by Jesus Christ That Pool of Bethesda was a Type of Jesus Christ who can make any thing healing and Sovereign for recovery A curse came by the fall upon every means used only Jesus Christ hath restored the blessing upon the means and that should heighten our thoughts of the mercy that it comes from and by Christ no mercy comes otherwise therefore never look on any mercy but in the view of it remember and think of Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 3. 22 23. all is yours saith the Apostle life death every thing but how only as you are Christs We came to have a right to every mercy by Jesus Christs and only by him and that should be a most beautiful Contemplation to us here upon Earth which will be so glorious to our Eye in Heaven where this discovery will be made fully how all our mercyes flow to us by and through Christ 4. You may read the grace of God in every such mercy It is great love and kindness of God manifested in every mercy for every sinner is unworthy of the least mercy as Jacob acknowledgeth I am less then the least of all thy mercyes so it must be grace that brings mercy to you and if you are made whole know that healing mercy is of grace yea there are riches of mercy in every outward favour the Lord bestows and this
46. saith Solomon If they sin and come and confess it for there is no man that liveth and doth not sin Joh. 1. 8. he that saith he hath no sin â—e denyeth the Truth the Truth is not in him that is his greatest sin a very great sin and discovers him to be in a state of sin to say he lives and doth not sin 2. But it is an Evangelical obedience and Perfection Christ calls for especially you may take up the meaning of it under these three considerations heads 1. Goe and sin no more that is labour to be in such an Estate that thou mayst be in a Gospel Sense in a sinless Estate you are now healed you have bodily hâ—aling let that be your care now that your Soul may be healed It is said of the Children of God those that are truly converted 1 Joh. 3. 9. He that is born of God doth not commit sin for his Seed remains in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God that is that Christ now directs you to to labour to be in such a State in which thou canst not sin that you may not be under the dominion and reign of sin under the domineering Ruling power of sin nor under the damning power of sin your great business is to labour to have a real saving Interest in Jesus Christ thereby Christ doth manifest his great care of this poor man that he would have his Soul healed he would have him in a saving State for Eternity Now let it be your main care to improve your health and strength renewed and spared to you to get a right to eternal life that you may be a child of God and though being such will not secure you from outward chastisement and affliction in the World yet it will secure them from you as being the punishment of sin and the effect of Gods wrath You are thereby perfectly healed in this respect that there shall never be an affliction in Gods anger but only the fruit of his love you find the same Counsel given by Jesus Christ Joh. 8. 10 11. when Jesus saw the woman brought before him and accused of Adultery that he should condemn her and all her accusers were gone he said unto her doth no man accuse thee she said no man Lord Jesus said unto her neither do I condemn thee goe and sin no more as if the Lord Jesus should say I came not now into the world to be a Judge to condemn sinners indeed there is a time when Christ will be the Judge but now I Judge no man therefore let that be your care that you sin no more you get a pardon of your sin and interest in a Saviour that your heart be sanctified for your future walking with God In this command of Jesus Christ he doth not only express what is his will what is approving to God and his own will but Jesus Christ was actually the Saviour of this man by this command he did hereby heal his Soul by this command as well as his body by bidding him take up his bed and walk and he doth thereby show his readiness when that is our care that we may not sin again that we may truly be the Children of God you shall find God manifesteth this in his mercy that he is much more willing to save your Souls then he hath been to deliver your bodies this is the great thing God would have you goe to him for that your Souls may be healed as well as your bodies that is the first thing that you labour to be in such a State that no affliction may ever come upon you in way of Judgement or in Gods wrath 2. Goe and sin no more it doth import thus much that it should be the diligent care and endeavour of them that are under saving mercy that they do not allow themselves in any known sin take heed of sin as of a poison that will do you a great deal more mischief now then ever before that you do not allow any sin either in thoughts or actions nor live in any known sin 1 Joh. 2. 1. saith the Apostle there My little Children these things write I unto you that you sin not but if any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous all the writings of the Gospel that is the meaning of it it is not to encourage you to sin but to caution you against sin What sinning that is see you do not allow it but if sin be too hard for you and in a conflict carry you captive then make your confession to Christ and labour to get pardon and power against it Rom. 7. 18 24 25. as Paul did he acknowledged there he did sin but it was against his will the sin that I would not do I do it and how doth it appear to be against his will by the sad moans he made to Jesus Christ by his earnest cry for deliverance and by his acknowledgement of that great mercy of God that had found out such a deliverer for him so you must go and do likewise Do not allow your self in any sin but shew you disallow it confess it there is your encouragement you have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ therighteous there is great liberty for you to goe for every Covenant mercy pardon and power against sin are great Covenant mercyes 3. Goe and sin no more that is be sure you take heed you do not commit that sin again for which God hath especially afflicted you or hath threatned you for that sin God hath in especial manner been dealing with you for chastising you for goe and sin no more commit that sin no more so he saith to that woman Joh. 8. Goe sin no more take heed of Adultery as long as you live you must remember that ordinarily the chastisements and afflictions God brings on his people are for their sins and there are some special sins of the people of God that are the provocation of special chastisements when God doth not cast you into hell for them but doth deliver you and save you then that is your great duty that you should live with a fear of that sin all your dayes and take heed of that Psal 89. 33. If thy Sons break my Statutes I will chastise them with the Rods of men We ought to look on every Chastisement as coming to us for sin and to find out those special sins and there should be the great care of a Christian that he should forsake them not to meddle with them any more that that hath pulled down so great a Judgement Oh take heed you sin that sin no more Quest But you will say how shall we know what is that sin that God doth specially chastise us for that we may be warned and take heed ever of committing that sin any more Answ Observe and take special notice what evil God doth threaten with punishment and Chastisement on his people
for what sins God doth especially threaten to punish his people for all afflictions are the accomplishment of Gods word they are the fulfilling of Gods Threatnings therefore in the Threatning you may read what the sin is that God punisheth that that he saith Psal 89. when they break my Laws I will chastise them with Rods. Especially God doth threaten to punish with his immediate hand afflictions that come from God more immediately are to punish those sins that men cannot see that doe not lye under the observation of men that men cannot reach sins committed in fecret Hebr. 13. 4. whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge God himself will judge them they may commit that sin secretly out of the view of men but God himself undertaketh to judge that So 1 Thes 4. 6. Let no man goe beyond and defraud his Brother in any matter because that the Lord is the Avenger of all such if there be any secret hidden way of unrighteousness and Oppression that men cannot find out the Lord himself is the Avenger of such 2. Observe for what sins God hath inflicted punishment on his professing people of old for they are written for our example there we shall read the indignation of God against sin and the ordinary way of his dispensations against them when they are sins of a professing people 1 Cor. 10. 6. The Apostle gives a Catalogue of those sins for which God did inflict variety of Judgements on his peopel Israel in the wilderness as that he would doe in the same way or in a greater among Professors in gospel times these things were our example to the intent we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted neither be ye Idolaters as some of them were neither commit fornication as some of them committed nor tempt Christ as some of them tempted nor murmure as some of them murmured These are the sins that provoke God to those variety of Judgements There was Idolatry superstition worshipping God in a false way Fornication that sin of uncleanness and the tempting of Christ How did they tempt him By despising his own way of providing for them having low common thoughts of that Manna from Heaven preferring the satisfying their own lusts before the counsel and will of God to lead them to eternal life There was a murmuring spirit against God and against those God set up for these things God did punish 1 Cor. 11. 30. For this cause many are weak and sick among you and many fallen asleep What cause Their slightness at the Sacrament want of preparation for it and being in the spirit of it for this cause many are sick and fallen asleep 3. If you would know what sin God doth chastise and punish you for take special notice of what sin God doth represent the guilt of before you in the time of your sickness or in the time of the visitation of his people God doth many times carry a discovery of the sin in the punishment it carryes a great deal of Conviction with it may be many times you have heard many a Sermon that hath convinced you of that very sin that you have taken no notice of but God hath set it before you in the time of affliction and distress it may be that hath been the thing for which you have prayed God to deliver you and spare you now and you would mend that course How many on their sick beds have confessed and bewailed their contempt of the word of God of Jesus Christ and of the gospel and their Sabbath breaking God hath laid the weight of it on them in the time of their sickness and they have promised amendment usually that is the special provocation God hath which he makes mens Consciences to smite them for at such a time that though it may be Conscience hath told thee many a time and checkt thee but now awakeneth thee in another manner therefore it is said you find God doth many times represent the guilt of sin that hath long time before been committed in the time of affliction and thereby tells you it was laid up among his Treasures hence Psal 25. 7. Lord remember not the sins of my Youth It was in a time of affliction God brought to remembrance and brought into his view the guilt of some youthful sins 2 Job 13 26. Thou hast made me to possess all the sins of my youth that is God had represented them to him in the horror terror and guilt of them so God suffers many times even sins that have been pardoned in his own to be represented to them as if they had never been pardoned in the time of affliction that they might be the more humbled for them and might esteem the manifestation of a pardon in respect of those sins So 1 King 17. 18. Saith that woman to Elisha when God had slain her son Dost thou come to bring my sins to remembrance Afflictions bring sins to remembrance those that it may be we have forgotten they are as if they were newly committed those sins that were a provocation to God observe in the time of distress what are those sins God doth load your Consciences with that you would be glad to be unburthened of that you make many vows and promises to God of amendment that is your great duty when God hath answered your cry that you sin no more take heed you doe not lick up those vomits you have vomitted out in time of distress and break your promise and vow to God By a diligent observance of these things you may see what is the quarrel God hath personally with you and therefore to take heed that you doe not provoke him anew 2. The Reasons of it There are two heads of reasons I shall take up only those given in the Text expresly or implyed Reas 1. Is drawn from God why you should take such care that you do not sin again doe not abide in an unconverted estate and doe not allow your self in any evill Doe not abide in any sin God hath punished you for there are two Arguments 1. From the mercy and goodness of God to you thou art healed and restored to means of salvation therefore doe not sin any more doe not live in such a state mercy bespeaks thee 2. From the Justice of God that slandeth ready to avenge abused mercyes if you doe be sure you must look for greatâ—r evills then any you have had a worse thing then thirty eight years sickness or any plague 2. The Arguments drawn from our selves should engage us not to sin any more 1. Our own engagements and promises to God not to sin any more Have you not made many vows and promises at such a time that you would not Now God expecteth that you should pay your vows 2. From the nature of this duty of thankfullness to God You will all owne that you owe God Thankfullness for healing mercy the truth of it appears in this that you doe not provoke
are thus amongst us many are willing to be last at the house of God and the first that may go out but now you will throw all that you have done after your Thank-offering if you go and sin again It is not whole burnt-offering and Sacrifices but a loving and serving God with all the heart and Soul that is acceptable to him Therefore you must not think you have made amends to God for healing mercy because you have given a verbal acknowledgement no this is the language of mercy and if you would be true to God goe and sin no more Psal 50. ult Who so offereth praise glorifieth me and to him that ordereth his eonversation aright will I show the Salvation of God They go both together to such a one God will show his Salvation Indeed all our acknowledgments else are but mockery For to say God we thank thee or to bring a publick acknowledgement of praise to God and yet for the sinner to do all he can against God it is a horrid piece of mockery you had better say nothing at all As she said to Sampson Judg. 16. Thou hast mocked me and hast not told me all thine heart so may God say to many a sinner This must needs be a great sin when instead of acknowledging God you come to provoke him and to put the highest affront upon the divine Majesty Psal 78 36. They remembred that God was their Rock and the high God their Redeemer nevertheless they flattered him with their mouth and lyed to him with their Tongue for their heart was not upright with him neither were they stedfast in his Covenant To think to flatter and speak God fair it is the greatest indignity a sinner can put upon the great God he that is able to discern all your flatteryes and what your hearts say it is to put a great affront upon the heavenly Majesty and instead of giving him the praise it is a cursing and blaspheming of him to his face VSE II. It is of Reproof unto those that are so far from taking heed that they sin no more after great and eminent Deliverances when God hath unbound them and set them a liberty that they do sin a great deal more that instead of being reformed and carrying it better to God they carry it a great deal worse This did stigmatize Ahaz 2 Chron. 28. 22. This is that Abas after his affliction and Gods deliverance he sinned more and more And that the Lord charges upon Israel Judg. 10. 11 12. I delivered you from such and such a misery and affliction when you cryed yet notwithstanding you have forsaken me therefore I will deliver you no more In Jer. 1. 6. it is said the Lord hearkened and heard no man spake aright no man repented him of his wickedness saying what have I done like wild Creatures that have been chained up a while they are the more fierce They turned more fiercely after their wicked wayes and were more bold and daring in them this is a great provocation VSE III. It is of Exhortation to press this holy and suitable Counsel of Jesus Christ on them that have been under Deliverance Have you been delivered from the sword of a cruel enemy or the Small Pox that killing disease Have your Families been delivered What is your duty now That should be the great enquiry of your Souls what shall I doe for God I cannot give you Counsel in better words then Christ gives here Goe and sin no more that is take heed tâ—at you doe not goe on in those evills that God hath convinced any of in themselves or others in the time of their distress As 1. In sins of Omission God hath been punishing for these things and how many in bitterness of soul have expressed how God hath charged these home upon their Consciences when they have been near unto death as neglect of a right improvement of the precious seasons of grace when any of you live under soul-saving means under the offer and tender of Christ and yet have not improved it Consider that the neglect of Christ is the greatest sin and it will be charged by Christ at the day of Judgement among the greatest of evils even sins of Omiâ—sion Mat. 26. latter end This you did not to me This neglect of Christ will be charged heavy at that day upon you that doe not make it your great main and daily business to be turned and truly changed to be fitted to die when God hath put you in fear of death and eternity what evills have been your trouble and fear then but your unfitness for that change Will it not be your great sin that another sickness or danger should find you as unprepared as you were How bitterly have I heard this lamented by some that they have not given up themselves to be in Covenant with the people of God as well as to the Lord that they have been negligent of Church Communion with Gods people How many dying ones have with bitterness of Soul bewailed this that there own sad and discouraging thoughts of themselves or rather their own pride hath hindred from that which is such a Covenant-engaging duty How many in a time of distress have made these vows that after such a sickness they would give themselves up to God Do you look upon these as great things of Christ and of his Interest Hath not God made the special promise of a blessing to a thousand generations That that doth perpetuate there enjoyment of God to future Ages is this joyning our selves to the people of God Therefore to live in the neglect of that is a great sin and if God hath convinced you of it take heed that you forfeit not your deliverance by such sins Again negligence under the means of grace This hath also been sorrowfully bewailed either in not coming to hear that they have neglected any Season and when hearing they have cast Gods word behind them 2. As sins of Omission so also of Commission when God hath convinced of these sins take heed of them again Hath God told you of Sensuality or of uncleanness or unrighteousness take heed that these sins do not live revive in you after healing mercy Let not God find you at these practices again The Lord saith to us you shall have your life upon condition you will sin no more and you accept it and look upon it as a great favour Now the Lord when he comes to condemn you will do it out of your own mouths and this sin especially your sin after deliverance hastens thy Judgement 1 King 2. 42. As Solomon said to Shimei so here it may be said to such a sinner SERM. IV. THe Doctrine we are speaking to is That it is the duty of healed and saved ones to be very careful they sin no more We shewed what it is to sin no more and why such as are under healing and saving mercyes should sin no more We are upon the
improvement hereof by way of Exhortation that I may set home this Counsel of Jesus Christ on all your hearts and upon my own that we take good heed that we sin no more There are five or six Motives or considerations to further our acceptance and improvement of this Counsel If it were no more then that it is the Counsel of Christ from his own blessed mouth who is a true lover of mens Souls that were enough to further any that have love to Jesus Christ and to their own Souls to be careful to attend to his Counsel Christ never advised any to their own hurt Suppose you had been hearing Christ himself and that he had spoken in particular to you do not you think his words would have been of weight to you why this is Christs advice and not to that man only but to all in like case therefore for your furtherance Consider 1. That sinning again will disappoint you of the good of your deliverance I say it will eat out the good and sweet of it The outward mercy of healing or whatever the Salvation of God is to you it is not a mercy alone Such is mans misery since the fall that there is no outward mercy or dispensation of God to him but if it comes alone it comes under the curse and it proves a greater misery then a mercy and where you enjoy any mercy from God if it do not deliver you from sin it is not in favour but comes under the influence of the old Covenant 1 Tim. 4. 4 5. As the Apostle saith of every Creature of God it is good if it be received with Thanksgiving for it is sanctified by the word of God and Prayer i. e. if it be received with a heart truly Thankful it is sanctified without this you have no good in any Creature enjoyment because it is unsanctified as whatever the sinner doth is defiled because himself is defiled so whatever he enjoys is defiled he himself being unsanctified Then mercy and outward deliverance carries a great deal of good in it when it fits you for Gods service then it tends to the end of its first Institution to further the Service of God but sinning again destroys this end of it If a mercy makes you better then it is a choice mercy but if it do not better you in your Souls it is far from being good to you I may say of such mercies as of Jonahs goard Jon. 4. 5 6. When he was in great distress and the Sun beat upon him and greatly afflicted him and the Lord made a goard to come up over Jonah to be a shadow over his head to deliver him from his grief and Jonah was exceeding glad of the goard But Jonah was not sanctified hereby in his heart by obedience to God therefore there was a worm that smote the Goard that it withered You may be glad of your deliverances but if sin remain it will be as a worm in them to destroy the shadow the comforts of them therefore take heed that you sin no more for that will spoyle you of the best good of your mercyes the flower and sweetness of a mercy will be eaten out thereby that is the first Motive 2. Consider that sinning after deliverance will hinder you from the enjoyment of other mercyes which God intends you together with your deliverance for that is not all God intends in shewing poor sinners a common bounty Christ seems to tell this healed man here this is not all my meaning in coming to heal thee I have Soul healing to bestow upon thee but sin stops and prevents this as the Lord said to David If that had been too little I would have done so and so for thee 2 Sam. 12. 8. the outward mercy is the least God is inclined to do more but as Jer. 5. 25. Your iniquities have turned away his Ear from you and your sins have withheld good things from you Are you not made better by mercyes are you not changed renewed by repentance under mercyes what is the matter why your sins have hindred your iniquityes have kept good things from you As it is said God makes a way for his anger so sometimes he doth for his mercy in removing a present Judgement but Impenitency unreformedness that stands in the way God had made for his mercy as it is said of Christ at Capernaum he could do no great works there because of their Vnbelief So to speak with reverence God cannot proceed in mercy when sin is renewed Christ tells them Luk. 16 11. If you have not been faithful in the unrighteous Mammon who will commit to your trust the true Riches if you carry it not well to God in a common mercy do you think that God will bestow and betrust you with more and better mercyes 3. Consider that sinning after deliverance it is a greater sin then your sins before you received the mercy you cannot sin now at so easy a Rate as before you sin with a higher hand Your mercy puts an aggravation upon your sin for to him that knoweth to do good and doth it not to him it is sin Iam. 4. ult that is he sinneth at a higher Rate then another because he sinneth against light yea and against love Gods love therefore his sin is of a deeper dye then the sins of others are 4. Consider they that sin after Deliverance they are a greater provocation to God God is more angry with such for such sins then others 2 Sam. 12. 8. the Lord by the Prophet reckons up great things to David he did for him I anointed thee King over Israel I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul I gave thee thy Masters house and thy Masters wives into thy bosome and I gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah and if that had been too little I would moreover have given thee such and such things wherefore hast thou despised the Commandment of the Lord for it is said Chap. 11. ver ult The thing that David had done displeased the Lord so that the Sword should not depart from his house c. Sins after Deliverances and great Mercyes are a great provocation 5. Consider sins after deliverance they are sins against your special engagements and Covenants I doubt not but many of you in time of distress have made that prayer which David did Psal 119. 175. Let my Soul live and it shall praise thee have not many of your prayers and cryes in sickness been that you might live to praise God to be better in Gods Service Now to live in sin to Gods dishonour after deliverance how contrary is this to your Ingagements to reproach and blaspheme his holy Name afterward 6. Consider the great advantage of not sinning any more this is preserving Diet of an healed sinner Christ as a wise and faithful Phisitian prescribes this as health preserving Diet. This is the way to preserve and continue the mercyes you have received and
these it is by labouring to be in a way of Reformation 6. If you would sin no more be in the use of all means that God hath appointed to preserve you from sin with earnest prayer for his Spirit to help you to mortifie sin and be found in the way of obedience that you may be assisted by his Spirit in the doing of it All means endeavours that any man can use himself without the help of Gods Spirit will not do Rom. 8. 13. mortifie the deeds of the body by the Spirit You may refrain a while but you will never destroy one sin without the Spirit and this Spirit is to be obtained by prayer Luk. 11. 13. the Lord will give his Spirit to them that ask him O be earnest with the Lord to lead you by the hand of his Spirit that shall guide and assist you in a holy course 7. And Lastly Resolve not in your own but in Christs strength that you will not sin any more Job 34. 31. 32. I know resolutions and engagements in a mans own strength they will fail him Peter is a sad Instance Luk. 22. He was as resolved as any could be though I dye with thee I will never deny thee That is the Reason why they come to no better Effect the Vows and Resolutions of men because they think they can do it of themselves Therefore saith David I said I would take heed to my wayes that I sin not with my Tongue Psal 143. But he begs that God would keep the door of his lips establish his saying I said through the grace of God that I would do my duty be waiting upon God for his help Psal 119. 13â— I will run the wayes of thy Commandments when thou shalt enlarge my heart Teach me O Lord the way of thy Statutes and I will keep them unto the end Thus we should take up those holy resolutions in the grace and strength of Christ that we sin no more But labour to walk more closely with God for time to come SERM. V. THe last Doctrine we observed hence was this That continuance in sin after eminent deliverances pull down heavier Judgemens or those that contitinue in sin after eminent healing mercyes from God worse things will befal them For the handling this Doctrinally we shall shew you 1. that there are worse things may befall men then ever yet have befallen them 2. What are those sins the continuance in which or what is that continuance in sin that worse Judgements shall befall such sinners 3. That it shall be so and the Reasons of it 1. That worse things may befal sinners then ever yet have befallen them God hath sharper Arrows in his Quiver other manner of Judgements to inflict on sinners then ever sinners have undergone there is none should be so bold as to say what ever afflictions they have come under that God hath done his worâ—â— I remember I have heard of one in England near Westchester that had such expressions upon a great affliction that God had now done his worst but God made her a living monument of his sorer Judgements that for many years It is a great deal of boldness for any sinners to limit God in his Justice as well as in his mercy for any to say of God in his mercy can God provide for us it is a tempting God so for any to say Can God bring a greater Judgement yea there may be a great deal worse Christ tels this man you do not read what his sickness was but you find by the Effects it was very distressing he was unable to help himself had never a friend to help him and had lain under this infirmity thirty eight years and yet the Lord Jesus tells him if he doth not carry it better worse things shall befal him and the Lord tells us of the last times in which we live Dan. 12. 1. There shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a Nation there are troubles God will bring upon a professing people such as never was worse on any Nation so there are those God can bring upon a person such as never were worse on any person But more particularly 1. There are worse Judgements in this world that God can inflict then ever have been inflicted on any 2. There are worse Judgements God hath to inflict in another world 1. In this world as 1. Temporal or outward Judgements such as respect the outward man God can bring other manner of outward miseryes then ever yet he hath done on any 2. Spiritual Judgements such as respect the inward man 1. For outward Judgements the Lord hath variety of them a great variety but especially we read of four sore Judgements of God Ezek. 14. 21. For thus saith the Lord how much more when I send my four sore Judgements on Jerusalem the Sword the Famine the noysome Beasts and the Pestilence to cut off from is man and Beast God hath sent his Sword among you but Famine is a sorer Judgement and noysome Beasts that is a sorer Judgement still and the Pestilence but how much sorer are these when all these are together when what the Sword leavs the Famine shall devour and what the Famine leaves the wild Beasts shal devour and what these leave the Pestilence shall devour When God sends all his Judgements at once upon a people that is a sore affliction as there are worse sorts of Judgements so there is never an one of these sorts but God can make it a worse Judgement in the degree of it he can make every one of these Judgements a great deal worse as you read Ezek 9. 10. As for me saith the Lord my eye shall not spare neither will I have pitty but I will recompense their wayes on their heads When Judgements come in such a way of Iudgâ—ment without any mixture of Gods sparing and pittying mercy then it is a sorer Judgement when the Errand of them is only to destroy not refine and purge a People but to ruine them and God will have no more mercy on them this is a sore affliction 2 There are spiritual judgements that God inflicteth in this world and they are a great deal worse then any outward judgement there are variety of spiritual judgements but especially there are four main sorts of spiritual judgements the sorest there is the sword that is the word of God when it is only for terror only for conviction a wound in the conscience is more dreadfull then a wound in the body when God sends an arrow into the conscience a wounded spirit who can bear Prov. 18. 14. it is an intollerable unsufferable wound especially when God will provide no balm in Gilead nor healing medicine for it when God shall make a man a terror to himself this is a sorer judgement The Soul is the tenderer part the more spiritual part therefore every such judgement is far greater that reacheth the Soul and spiritual
will certainly be as good as his Threatning to you Jer. 44 25 26. when Ieremiah had told them from the Lord what was the sin had provoked the Lord against them therefore if now they would carry it better God would have compassion on them but they were resolved on their way and would have their lusts We will surely perform our Vows we have vowed to pour out drink offerings to the Queen of Heaven therefore hear the word of the Lord behold I have sworn by my great Name that my Name shall be no more named in the mouth of any man of Iudah So what ever is the sin you have made solemn Vows to God in the time of your distress against if it have been your Sabbath breaking contempt of the Word and Ordinances of God Covetousness pride Sensuality Contention if these be not reformed if you will live in them still and have your own way what ever God saith to the contrary this is to live in those sins that will pull down greater judgements 3. That greater Judgements will befall such for God hath threatned it Lev 26. 24 28. If that doth not doe saith God I will punish you seven times more for your abominations when one is over God tryes what that will doe and if that doe not doe and God on trial sees that you are never the better then you must expect seven times greater judgements And we find that this hath been the way of Gods proceeding both with profane sinners and his professing people that he hath followed them with worse judgements when they have not been amended with lesser so God did with Pharaoh God hath variety of plagues when he delivered him from one and yet he continued hardned against the Lord then he brought another and worse plague till he himself at last was destroyed and his people So it was with a professing people Psal 78 throughout that Psalm God delivered them many times and they provoked him and provoked him so far till he gave up his glory into the hand of the enemâ— There were degrees of punishment and every punishment was worse then before then God abhorred his people and gave up his strength into the hand of the enemy v. 60. The Reasons of it Reas 1. From the Justice of God who gives every man according to their works Rom. 2. 6. He will render every man according to their deeds Where deeds have been worse the Judgements of God will be worse Tribulation and anguish to the Jew first and then to the Gentile a Jews punishment shall be greater and worse then that of the Gentile because God will render to every one according to his works Judgements are the wages of sin Rom. 6. 23. Now God will give wages according to every mans works they that have been more in the work of sin shall receive greater wages of sin now sinning after eminent mercy is a greater sin therefore deserveth greater punishment for 1. It is a sin against a great deal more mercy there is Gods sparing mercy and the riches of Gods goodness as the Apostle calls it Rom. 2. 4. Despisest thou the riches of his goodness there is a great deal of riches of mercy in every mercy a sinner enjoyeth when God hath a sinner at such an advantage to destroy him it is rich mercy now to spare him the going on in sin is contempt cast upon the riches of Gods mercy that which Justice will not bear but is sure to revenge 2. It is against more light after more of the knowledge of their Masters will now he that knows his Masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes Luke 12. 47. 3. They are sins against vows and engagements to obedience to sin after deliverance the praying for deliverance layes the Sinner under a Vow of obedience and duty to God besides the voluntary vows that many have made in their distress unto God now that is a great sin to sin against our voluntary engagements we have made to God when we have said we will no more transgress see how God puts Jacob in mind of it how angry God was with Jacob when he did not perform his Vow Gen. 35. 1. Goe to Bethel where thou vowedst to serve the Lord. The greatest affliction that ever he had in his Family was on the neglect of his vow that great miscarriage of his daughter Dinah and of his Sons was a punishment of the neglect of his vow God doth not delight in fools Eccles 5. 4. that when they say they will take care of their duty doe not perform it when they are rash with their mouthes it is a provocation to God to destroy the work of his hands Reas 2. From the faithfulness of God worse things must needs befall such because he will as certainly perform what he hath threatned as what he hath promised God will be as good as his word and he hath threatned every Sinner that continues in sin after warning after mercies that greater judgements shall befall them Reas 3. From the wisdome of God the manifestation of Gods wisdome a great deal of Gods wisdome will be manifested as in variety and excellent ways of delivering his People so in special judgements on evil doers 2 Pet. 3. 9 God knows how to deliver the godly and to reserve the wicked to the day of Judgement to be punished It is a part of the wisdome of God in governing the world that he knows how to give out punishments to evill doers that he knows how to reward all the obedience of his Servants though he seems to forget them for a time and knows how to punish Sinners though he seems to wink at them for a time By way of improvement The only Vse we shall make of this is to be a word of Conviction awakening to us we have been under the judgements of God and God hath eminently delivered us He hath delivered from the sword of a barbarous enemy and hath in a great measure delivered from that more immediate judgement the Small-Pox that came with such commission from God to destroy now you are delivered you must not look on your selves out of the reach of Gods Judgements doe not think God hath done his worst and will doe no more or put your selves in a fools Paradice to say as Agag 1 Sam. 15. 26. He put himself in his brave cloaths and said The bitterness of death is over so many think the bitterness of death and hell is over now they have escaped the present Judgement but he found it otherwise to his cost And you that continue in your sins have reason to be afraid that greater Judgement is nearer then you are aware of 1 Thes 5. 3. When they say peace and safety when an ungodly man saith so that lives in his sin all shall be well with me then sudden destruction cometh I would only lay before you these two or three Considerations 1. Consider that outward Providences are no